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Book events are often an author reading, a discussion and a signing. And then there are events like those that Mary Kay Andrews does; she knows to be sure there is a party when she is on the road. We saw it in person for her latest book, BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CHRISTMAS, but we also saw other pictures from the tour on her social media.
On Sunday, Lisa Hickman from our team caught up with Mary Kay in Savannah for an afternoon tea party hosted by St. Vincent's Academy and E. Shaver Booksellers, which also served as a fundraiser for the school's scholarship fund. At the event, Lisa met one of the bookstore's owners, Melissa, who uses our “On Sale This Week” newsletter to assist in her decisions when it comes to displays. We LOVED hearing this! Pictured above is Lisa and Mary Kay.
My friend, Annmarie, joined me at Mary Kay’s event at the Brielle Public Library. We got stuck in ridiculous traffic on the drive down to the beach and slid in as the discussion was going on. We passed a Christmas tree in the lobby, and the staffers were wearing Santa hats, including staffers from BookTowne. Plus, there were holiday-themed Prosecco cocktails as refreshments with colorful sprigs of green in them.
I loved the witty slides running behind the dais where Mary Kay was in conversation with Meghan Walker, her assistant/publicist and the manager of Friends and Fiction. See the photo above. They talked characters, Christmas trees and, yes, the actual corner in the city where BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CHRISTMAS is set. Evenings like this with fellow booklovers who are smiling, taking photos with the author and buying books are brilliant. BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CHRISTMAS is a Bets On selection, and I can see myself wrapping up just a few copies this holiday season.
The book event on my calendar this Saturday is the Morristown Festival of Books. See a section later in this newsletter with details on the sessions that I will be moderating, as well as a link to the full schedule for the day.
My latest "Bookreporter Talks To" interview is with Thrity Umrigar, whose new novel, THE MUSEUM OF FAILURES, will be a Bets On title (as was her previous book, HONOR).
Remy Wadia has come back to India from his home in Columbus, Ohio, to adopt a baby. His friends know a young woman who is pregnant and wants to give up her child. Remy is conflicted about this trip as he has had a long, contentious relationship with his mother, and this is his first time back in India since the death of his father, who was his champion. He and his dad shared a warm, loving relationship. His mom is colder and more guarded with him.
Thrity talks about her plotting and the building of her characters, as well as the multiple references to “the museum of failures” in the book. Like Remy, Thrity is Parsi, part of a very small sect, and she delves into their history. There is also a discussion about how infrequently many Americans contemplate the nuances of the larger world, and how little is taught in school about much of it. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. And don’t miss my Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter. Thrity will be joining me in Morristown tomorrow, and I look forward to more conversation with her.
Internationally bestselling author Jo Nesbø, best known for his Harry Hole mysteries, is back with his first-ever horror novel, THE NIGHT HOUSE. In the wake of his parents’ tragic deaths in a house fire, 14-year-old Richard has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle in a remote town. When a classmate named Tom goes missing, everyone suspects he is responsible. No one believes Richard’s story that a telephone booth sucked Tom into the receiver. No one, that is, except Karen, a beguiling fellow outsider.
According to our reviewer Ray Palen, “The narrative here is told and retold in such a way that it deconstructs the entire story you have just read. I could not shake the feeling that Richard may not be the most reliable narrator. I can only hope that this foray into the dark side of fiction is not a lark and that Nesbø plans to take us back here more frequently in the very near future.”
Safiya Sinclair’s much-buzzed-about memoir, HOW TO SAY BABYLON, is this month’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick. Here, she tells the stunning story of her struggle to break free of her rigid Rastafarian upbringing, ruled by her father’s strict patriarchal views and repressive control of her childhood, to find her own voice as a woman and poet. Jenna calls it “a book about freedom, choice, becoming who we're meant to be,” but it's also about “family and a mom's devotion.”
Rebecca Munro has our review and says, “That Sinclair and her father are both artists seeking salvation through their work provides a gorgeous through line of love in this otherwise explosive memoir. But the star here is really Sinclair, whose cadenced prose, discerning eye and ability to gaze unflinchingly into her family’s painful past turn this book into a gift of its own, a liberating maxim on the power of rebellion. Perfect for readers of EDUCATED, MAID and BORN A CRIME, HOW TO SAY BABYLON more than delivers on every count.” I have heard Safiya speak about this book twice, and I have it on my ever-teetering “to be read” pile.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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SCATTERSHOT: Half of one of the greatest creative partnerships in popular music, Bernie Taupin is the man who wrote the lyrics for Elton John, who conceived the ideas that spawned countless hits and sold millions and millions of records. But Taupin, a famously private person, has kept his own account of their adventures close to his chest. Until now.
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IN LIGHT OF ALL DARKNESS: Paced like a thriller and full of insider information on the history and science of Crime Scene Investigation, Kim Cross’ new book immerses readers in one of the most famous true-crime stories of our generation --- the kidnapping of Polly Klaas --- a case as pivotal in the history of the FBI as the Unabomber or Oklahoma City bombing.
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MIDNIGHT IS THE DARKEST HOUR: Ashley Winstead, the critically acclaimed author of IN MY DREAMS I HOLD A KNIFE and THE LAST HOUSEWIFE, has penned a gothic Southern thriller about a killer haunting a small Louisiana town, where two outcasts --- the preacher's daughter and the boy from the wrong side of the tracks --- hold the key to uncovering the truth.
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THE INTERN: A young Harvard law student falls under the spell of a charismatic judge in Michele Campbell’s timely thriller about class, ambition, family and murder. As these women circle each other in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game, will they save each other, or will betrayal leave one of them dead? I enjoyed reading this book; Michele does such a great job with it.
This Month’s New in Paperback Feature
Our New in Paperback roundups for October are now up. We’re featuring paperback reprints from such bestselling fiction authors as John Irving (THE LAST CHAIRLIFT), Steve Berry (THE LAST KINGDOM), George Saunders (LIBERATION DAY: Stories), Dani Shapiro (SIGNAL FIRES), and Elizabeth McCracken (THE HERO OF THIS BOOK); nonfiction titles, including AND THERE WAS LIGHT: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle by Jon Meacham, THE REVOLUTIONARY: Samuel Adams by Stacy Schiff, and A HEART THAT WORKS by Rob Delaney; and paperback originals like ONE LAST KILL by Robert Dugoni and VEIL OF DOUBT by Sharon Virts (our current Mystery Mayhem Author Spotlight title).
Books on Screen Offerings for October
We’ve also updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. October’s roundup includes the series premiere of "Lessons in Chemistry" on Apple TV+; the films Killers of the Flower Moon, Desperation Road and Foe in theaters, along with Pet Sematary: Bloodlines on Paramount+ and The Pigeon Tunnel on Apple TV+; the season premiere of "Bosch: Legacy" on Amazon Freevee; the season finales of "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon" on AMC, "The Wheel of Time" on Amazon Prime Video, and "When Calls the Heart" on Hallmark Channel; the continuation of "The Morning Show" on Apple TV+; and the DVD releases of The Boogeyman, Blue Beetle and Shortcomings.
October’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick is THE LIST, multi-award-winning journalist and bestselling author Yomi Adegoke’s debut novel. In this timely exploration of the real-world impact of online life, a high-profile female journalist’s world is upended when her fiancé’s name turns up in a viral social media post.
Reese’s Book Club pick for this month is Alix E. Harrow’s latest novel, STARLING HOUSE, a modern gothic fantasy that is perfect for this spooky time of year. As Reese says, “This book has everything you could possibly want this fall: a cursed town, a haunted house, a vivid and eerie setting --- plus characters willing to risk everything.” Don’t miss our review in next week’s newsletter.
THE PROSPECTORS by Ariel Djanikian is October’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. This sweeping rags-to-riches story of survival and greed across American history follows a family transformed by the Klondike Gold Rush. On Tuesday, November 14th at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Ariel, which you can sign up for here.
For more October selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
It just so happens that our new poll asks about monthly book clubs and which ones you follow, if any. Click here to let us know by Friday, October 20th at noon ET. If you follow a book club that is not on our list, feel free to select “Other” and submit your answer.
In our previous poll, we listed 25 titles releasing in paperback in September and asked which of them, if any, you have read or are planning to read. Here are your top five picks: MAD HONEY by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan (47%), LUCY BY THE SEA by Elizabeth Strout (35%), THE MITFORD AFFAIR by Marie Benedict (31%), THE WINNERS by Fredrik Backman (30%), and THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT by Debbie Macomber (16%). Click here for all the results.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, October 20th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win THE EXCHANGE by John Grisham (the long-awaited sequel to THE FIRM) and BLOOD LINES by Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille. We will feature our reviews of both these titles over the next couple of weeks.
I have been reading BLOOD LINES this week. Nelson and Alex are great storytellers who write a terrific plot. I love when the descriptions and language in a book are married together well with plot and action. I am enjoying catching up with the characters I loved in THE DESERTER, Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor.
This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for our next “Bookaccino Live” book preview event, which will take place on Wednesday, October 11th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on titles releasing between October 10th and October 31st, in addition to a few from November and December, that we would like to tell you about. Click here to register. Those attending the live event will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.
This year's Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to Norwegian author Jon Fosse “for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable.” His immense oeuvre written in Norwegian Nynorsk and spanning a variety of genres consists of a wealth of plays, novels, poetry collections, essays, children’s books and translations. While today he is one of the most widely performed playwrights in the world, he also has become increasingly recognized for his prose. Click here to read more about Fosse and his remarkable career.
Also announced this week were the National Book Award finalists. They include CHAIN-GANG ALL-STARS by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (Fiction); LILIANA'S INVINCIBLE SUMMER: A Sister’s Search for Justice by Cristina Rivera Garza (Nonfiction); HOW TO COMMUNICATE by John Lee Clark (Poetry); CURSED BUNNY: Stories by Bora Chung, translated from the Korean by Anton Hur; and A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING by Dan Santat (Young People’s Literature). Click here for all the nominees. The winners will be announced during an in-person awards ceremony that will be live-streamed on Wednesday, November 15th at 8pm ET. You can sign up to watch it by clicking here.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Gina wrote this about our “Bookaccino Live” Book Club event with Alice Elliott Dark: “Thank you for hosting the recent event with Alice Elliott Dark. FELLOWSHIP POINT was one of my favorite books of the last few months. I loved the story of a long-standing friendship written by an author who has obvious knowledge and respect for the bond between two old friends. I believe it could only be told by an author with maturity. It is poignant and perfect. Her insight into her writing process and the way she described how the story came through her was fascinating. The panel of readers did an excellent job with their questions. Please continue these events!”
Sharon wrote, “I was thrilled to receive copies of HOLLY by Stephen King and THE RIVER WE REMEMBER by William Kent Krueger. Both were at the top of my wish list. King's book came first, and I quickly read it and liked the fact that he used the character of Holly from the Mr. Mercedes series. He showed how much she has grown since then. I will post a review on Word of Mouth. I gave the book to my son and daughter-in-law to read as both were fascinated by the story. I also recommended it to two friends, both in book clubs.
“While waiting for the second book, I reread ORDINARY GRACE, one of my favorites from Krueger. I just finished THE RIVER WE REMEMBER and am blown away. It is a powerful story of small-town folks, a murder, and lots of secrets from its residents. There are many suspects because no one cared for the victim. However, you may not see the surprising perp until the end. I will be recommending this book to everyone as I feel it is his best so far. I will not pass this one on as it may require another reading to truly appreciate the writing and the author. Thank you so much for sending me these books!”
“All the Light We Cannot See”: Netflix has released the official trailer. I was lucky enough to watch the first episode of this series, which will kick off on November 2nd and is based on Anthony Doerr's novel.
John Grisham: Time has an interview with Grisham about the aforementioned THE EXCHANGE, which you can read here.
A Milestone for THE KITE RUNNER: Lit Hub has a terrific piece by Khaled Hosseini on the book's 20th anniversary. I always thought it was an instant bestseller; read the article to see what actually happened. Am I the only one who cannot believe that this book came out two decades ago?
“Black Cake” on Hulu: We now have a trailer for this series that will kick off on November 1st with three episodes; subsequent episodes will release every Wednesday through December 6th. We also have my “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Charmaine Wilkerson, who wrote the novel on which the series is based, as well as our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event with her. You may want to watch or listen to these before you tune in to the show.
“Lessons in Chemistry” on Apple TV+: This series based on Bonnie Garmus' novel will premiere next Friday, October 13th with the first two episodes; subsequent episodes will release every Friday through November 24th. So if you haven't read the book yet, now would be the time to do that!
The Marsh King's Daughter: This movie based on Karen Dionne's novel will release on November 3rd. You can see the trailer for it here.
“Beckham” on Netflix: I thoroughly enjoyed this documentary. I confess to knowing little about David Beckham. They did skip asking about when he started getting tattoos and what each is for. I am very impressed with how he organizes his closet. Mine needs some work. I am going to channel him!
“Who Killed Jill Dando?” on Netflix: Interesting, but too inconclusive for me.
Lisa Hickman (aka the best wingman a woman can hang out with) is headed to the city with me tonight for a book party for Douglas Brunt, the author of THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL. I am happy to see Doug getting a second week on the New York Times bestseller list. I am planning to interview him in a few weeks.
Then tomorrow, Lisa and I will be taking on the Morristown Festival of Books together, adding Annmarie Puleio to our group heading from panel to panel. Note that Lisa will be armed with bookmarks to hand out! I am looking forward to this...the events, as well as Lisa handing out the bookmarks.
Our office is closed in observance of Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day on Monday. I always think there is too long a space between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, and our team can use a day to either sleep in or read/catch up on life.
I think my days of floating in the pool are coming to a close. Last weekend, I floated around in a big tube reading SUCH KINDNESS by Andre Dubus III for tomorrow’s interview. This tube reads Outer Banks, which is where we spent MANY a summer, though we have not been there in 15 summers. So this is one really great tube, and it has no patches! It will be carefully deflated. The pool cover will be pulled out at the same time before I get the annual lecture on leaves falling into the pool. Actually, I think I already heard a few bars of that.
Read on, and have a great week!
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
P.S. For those of you who shop online, if you use the store links that appear on our site for shopping, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and IndieBound. As you read our reviews and features, we would appreciate your considering this as you buy!
Featured Review: THE NIGHT HOUSE by Jo Nesbø
THE NIGHT HOUSE written by Jo Nesbø, translated by Neil Smith (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Michael Crouch
In the wake of his parents’ tragic deaths in a house fire, 14-year-old Richard Elauved has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle in the remote, insular town of Ballantyne. Richard quickly earns a reputation as an outcast, and when a classmate named Tom goes missing, everyone suspects he is responsible. No one believes him when he says the telephone booth out by the edge of the woods sucked Tom into the receiver. No one, that is, except Karen, a beguiling fellow outsider. Richard traces the number that Tom prank-called from the phone booth to an abandoned house in the Mirror Forest. There he catches a glimpse of a terrifying face in the window. And then the voices begin to whisper in his ear: She’s going to burn. The girl you love is going to burn. There’s nothing you can do about it. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
HOW TO SAY BABYLON by Safiya Sinclair
October’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club Pick
HOW TO SAY BABYLON: A Memoir by Safiya Sinclair (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Safiya Sinclair
Throughout her childhood, Safiya Sinclair’s father, a volatile reggae musician and militant adherent to a strict sect of Rastafari, became obsessed with her purity --- in particular, with the threat of what Rastas call Babylon, the immoral and corrupting influences of the Western world outside their home. He worried that womanhood would make Safiya and her sisters morally weak and impure, and believed a woman’s highest virtue was her obedience. As Safiya watched her mother struggle voicelessly for years under housework and the rigidity of her father’s beliefs, she increasingly used her education as a sharp tool with which to find her voice and break free. Inevitably, with her rebellion comes clashes with her father, whose rage and paranoia explodes in increasing violence. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Read with Jenna" pick.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: SCATTERSHOT by Bernie Taupin
SCATTERSHOT: Life, Music, Elton, and Me by Bernie Taupin (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by John Lee and Bernie Taupin
Half of one of the greatest creative partnerships in popular music, Bernie Taupin is the man who wrote the lyrics for Elton John, who conceived the ideas that spawned countless hits. Together they were a duo, a unit, an immovable object. Their extraordinary, half-century-and-counting creative relationship has been chronicled in biopics (like 2019's Rocketman) and even John's own autobiography, ME. But Taupin, a famously private person, has kept his own account of their adventures close to his chest, until now. SCATTERSHOT allows the reader to witness events unfolding from Taupin's singular perspective --- sometimes front and center, sometimes from the edge, yet always described vibrantly, with an infectious energy that only a vivid songwriter's prose could offer. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Mystery Mayhem Author Spotlight:
VEIL OF DOUBT by Sharon Virts
On Sale October 10th
VEIL OF DOUBT by Sharon Virts (Historical Mystery/Thriller)
Emily Lloyd, a young widow in Reconstruction-era Virginia, is accused of poisoning her three-year-old daughter, Maud. It isn’t the first death in her home --- her husband and three other children all died of mysterious illnesses --- so when Maud succumbs to an unexplained malady, the town suspects foul play. Soon Mrs. Lloyd is charged not only with poisoning the child but also with murdering her children, her husband and her aunt.
Enter Powell Harrison, a soft-spoken, brilliant attorney who recently returned to his Virginia hometown to help his brother manage their late father’s practice. Approached to assist in Mrs. Lloyd’s defense, Harrison initially declines, worried that an infanticide case might tarnish their family’s reputation. But as details about the widow’s erratic behavior and her reclusive neighbors emerge, Harrison begins to suspect that an even more sinister truth might lurk beneath the family’s horrible fate and finds himself irresistibly drawn to the case.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Sharon Virts' bio.
- Click here to visit Sharon Virts' website.
- Connect with Sharon Virts on Facebook and Instagram.
Click here to read more in our Mystery Mayhem Author Spotlight.
Don't miss our review of the book in next week's newsletter
and our interview with Sharon Virts later this month.
Featured Review: IN LIGHT OF ALL DARKNESS
by Kim Cross
IN LIGHT OF ALL DARKNESS: Inside the Polly Klaas Kidnapping and the Search for America's Child by Kim Cross (True Crime)
Audiobook available, read by Lisa Flanagan
On October 1, 1993, 12-year-old Polly Klaas was kidnapped at knifepoint from her bedroom in Petaluma, California, during a sleepover with two friends. This rarest of all kidnappings --- a stranger abduction from the home --- triggered one of the largest manhunts in FBI history. The emotional gravity of Polly’s story touched every agent, police officer and forensic technician who worked on her case. Many of these investigators have never shared their stories --- until now. Kim Cross has written the first comprehensive account of what happened on that fateful night in October, as well as how the case forever transformed the Bureau’s approach to solving crimes. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: MIDNIGHT IS THE DARKEST HOUR
by Ashley Winstead
MIDNIGHT IS THE DARKEST HOUR by Ashley Winstead (Gothic Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Sarah Welborn
In her small hometown of Bottom Springs, Louisiana, librarian Ruth Cornier has always felt like an outsider, even as her beloved father rains fire-and-brimstone warnings from the pulpit at Holy Fire Baptist. Unfortunately for Ruth, the only things the townspeople fear more than the God and the Devil are the myths that haunt the area, like the story of the Low Man, a vampiric figure said to steal into sinners' bedrooms and kill them on moonless nights. When a skull is found deep in the swamp next to mysterious carved symbols, Bottom Springs is thrown into uproar --- and Ruth realizes only she and Everett, an old friend with a dark past, have the power to comb the town's secret underbelly in search of true evil. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE INTERN by Michele Campbell
THE INTERN by Michele Campbell (Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Sarah Mollo-Christensen
Madison Rivera lands the internship of a lifetime working for Judge Kathryn Conroy. But Madison has a secret that could destroy her career. Her troubled younger brother, Danny, has been arrested, and Conroy is the judge on his case. When Danny goes missing after accusing the judge of corruption, Madison’s quest for answers brings her deep into the judge’s glamorous world. Is Kathryn Conroy a mentor, a victim or a criminal? Is she trying to help Madison or use her as a pawn? And why is somebody trying to kill her? As the two women circle each other in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game, will they save each other, or will betrayal leave one of them dead? Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
October’s New in Paperback Roundups
October's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes John Irving's long-awaited 15th novel, THE LAST CHAIRLIFT, which is part ghost story and part love story, and spans eight decades of sexual politics; THE LAST KINGDOM, Steve Berry's 17th Cotton Malone adventure, in which the discovery of a lost historical document challenges the global might of the United States; LIBERATION DAY, George Saunders' first collection of short stories since 2013's TENTH OF DECEMBER, which explores ideas of power, ethics and justice as it cuts to the very heart of what it means to live in community with our fellow humans; THE HERO OF THIS BOOK, a taut, groundbreaking novel from Elizabeth McCracken about a writer’s relationship with her larger-than-life mother --- and about the very nature of writing, memory and art; and SIGNAL FIRES, Dani Shapiro’s first work of fiction in 15 years, which examines the ties that bind families together --- and the secrets that can break them apart.
Among our nonfiction highlights are AND THERE WAS LIGHT, in which Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer Jon Meacham chronicles the life of Abraham Lincoln, charting how --- and why --- he confronted secession, threats to democracy and the tragedy of slavery to expand the possibilities of America; THE REVOLUTIONARY, a revelatory biography from Stacy Schiff about the most essential Founding Father, Samuel Adams, who stood behind the change in thinking that produced the American Revolution; UNMASKED, a fascinating memoir by Paul Holes, a retired cold case investigator who is perhaps best known for tracking down the Golden State Killer; and A HEART THAT WORKS, Rob Delaney’s intimate, unflinching and at times fiercely funny exploration of his son Henry’s beautiful, bright life and the devastation of his loss --- from the harrowing illness to the vivid, bodily impact of grief and the blind, furious rage that followed through to the forceful, unstoppable love that remains.
Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
October 2nd, October 9th, October 16th, October 23rd and October 30th.
October’s Books on Screen Feature
Join Carol Fitzgerald for Three Special Author Events
at the Morristown Festival of Books
on Saturday, October 7th!
Created by and for people who love books, the Morristown Festival of Books in Morristown, New Jersey, has become a destination event for authors and readers. Since its inception in 2014, the festival has established itself among the top book festivals nationwide, drawing thousands of annual attendees.
The Main Festival is free and will get underway on Saturday, October 7th starting at 10am with in-person author talks, Q&As and signings. Carol Fitzgerald will be moderating three events that day, and we want to make sure they are on your radar.
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11am - 11:50am: Adrienne Brodeur (LITTLE MONSTERS) and Andre Dubus III (SUCH KINDNESS) consider complicated characters in fiction.
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12:10pm - 1pm: On the Edge of Your Seat: Megan Abbott (BEWARE THE WOMAN) will talk psychological thrillers. Please note that William Landay (ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME) was to appear on this panel, but he will not be able to attend the festival due to illness.
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2:30pm - 3:20pm: Missing Family and Buried Secrets: This panel features Claire Jiménez (WHAT HAPPENED TO RUTHY RAMIREZ), Jean Kwok (THE LEFTOVER WOMAN), and Thrity Umrigar (THE MUSEUM OF FAILURES).
Also taking place on Saturday during the festival is KidFest, where kids and teens can meet their favorite authors and illustrators and partake in interactive presentations and book readings.
Click here for more information about the Morristown Festival of Books.
MY DARLING GIRL by Jennifer McMahon (Psychological/Supernatural Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Hillary Huber with Kitty Hendrix
Alison has never been a fan of Christmas. But with it right around the corner and her husband busily decorating their cozy Vermont home, she has no choice but to face it. Then she gets the call. Mavis, Alison’s estranged mother, has been diagnosed with cancer and has only weeks to live. She wants to spend her remaining days with her daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters. But Alison grew up with her mother’s alcoholism and violent abuse and is reluctant to unearth these traumatic memories. Still, she eventually agrees to take in Mavis, hoping that she and her mother could finally heal and have the relationship she’s always dreamed of. But when mysterious and otherworldly things start happening upon Mavis’ arrival, Alison begins to suspect that her mother is not quite who she seems. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
LAND OF MILK AND HONEY by C Pam Zhang (Dystopian Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Eunice Wong
A smog has spread. Food crops are rapidly disappearing. A chef escapes her dying career in a dreary city to take a job at a decadent mountaintop colony seemingly free of the world’s troubles. There, the sky is clear again. Rare ingredients abound. Her enigmatic employer and his visionary daughter have built a lush new life for the global elite, one that reawakens the chef to the pleasures of taste, touch and her own body. In this atmosphere of hidden wonders and cool, seductive violence, the chef’s boundaries undergo a thrilling erosion. Soon she is pushed to the center of a startling attempt to reshape the world far beyond the plate. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
NEVER WHISTLE AT NIGHT: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. (Horror/Short Stories)
Audiobook available; read by Erin Tripp, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Joelle Peters, Kaniehtiio Horn, Lisa Cromarty, Maika Harper, Shane Ghostkeeper, Sheldon Elter and Tara Sky
Many Indigenous people believe that one should never whistle at night. This belief takes many forms. For instance, Native Hawaiians believe it summons the Hukai’po, the spirits of ancient warriors, and Native Mexicans say it calls Lechuza, a witch that can transform into an owl. But what all these legends hold in common is the certainty that whistling at night can cause evil spirits to appear --- and even follow you home. These wholly original and shiver-inducing tales introduce readers to ghosts, curses, hauntings, monstrous creatures, complex family legacies, desperate deeds and chilling acts of revenge. Introduced and contextualized by Stephen Graham Jones, these stories are a celebration of Indigenous peoples’ survival and imagination, and a glorious reveling in all the things that an ill-advised whistle might summon. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
BLACK RIVER ORCHARD by Chuck Wendig (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available; read by Xe Sands, Brittany Pressley, Sean Patrick Hopkins, Cindy Kay, Kalani Queypo, Gabra Zackman and Victor Colomé
It’s autumn in the town of Harrow, but something besides the season is changing there. Because in that town there is an orchard with seven most unusual trees. From those trees grows a new sort of apple: strange, beautiful, with skin so red it’s nearly black. Take a bite, and you will desire only to devour another. And another. You will become stronger and more vital. But then your appetite for the apples and their peculiar gifts will keep growing --- and become darker. Soon it seems that everyone is consumed by an obsession with the magic of the apples. However, something else is buried in the orchard besides the seeds of these extraordinary trees: a bloody history whose roots reach back to the very origins of the town. Now it’s harvest time, and the town will soon reap what it has sown. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
CLEAT CUTE by Meryl Wilsner (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available, read by Dana Varden and Zim Avaltrades
Grace Henderson has been a star of the US Women’s National Team for 10 years. But when she’s sidelined with an injury, a bold new upstart, Phoebe Matthews, takes her spot. The last thing Grace expects is to become teammates with benefits with this class clown she sees as her rival. Phoebe is too focused on her first season as a professional soccer player to think about seducing her longtime idol. But when Grace ends up making the first move, they can’t keep their hands off of each other. As the World Cup approaches and Grace works her way back from injury, a miscommunication leaves the women with hilariously different perspectives on their relationship. But they’re on the same page on the field, realizing they can play together instead of vying for the same position. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE SQUARE OF SEVENS by Laura Shepherd-Robinson (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Imogen Wilde
Cornwall, 1730: A young girl known only as Red travels with her father making a living predicting fortunes using the ancient Cornish method of the Square of Sevens. Shortly before he dies, her father entrusts Red’s care to a gentleman scholar, along with a document containing the secret of the Square of Sevens technique. Raised as a lady amidst the Georgian splendor of Bath, Red’s fortune-telling delights in high society. But she cannot ignore the questions that gnaw at her soul: Who was her mother? How did she die? And who are the mysterious enemies her father was always terrified would find him? While Red’s pursuit of these mysteries brings her the possibility of great reward, it also leads to grave danger. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
FOOTBALL DONE RIGHT: Setting the Record Straight on the Coaches, Players, and History of the NFL by Michael Lombardi (Sports)
Audiobook available; read by Michael Lombardi, Dan Woren and Jim Nantz
From “Monday Night Football” to Super Bowl Sunday, the NFL is a dominating force in the lives of millions of fans who tune in and passionately cheer for their favorite teams. And when the games are over, the conversation is just getting started. Who's the greatest player of all time? Which coaches truly shaped the game we know and love today? What was the most unforgettable game? Why is professional football such an undeniable part of our culture? Three-time Super Bowl winner Michael Lombardi has done it all --- from scout to executive to coach --- and now he sets the record straight on these questions and more. With FOOTBALL DONE RIGHT, Lombardi tackles all aspects of the sport, discussing the best of the best. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
INCENTIVE FOR DEATH by James Spoonhour (Mystery/Thriller)
A high-profile D.C. attorney is found dead in his office. McDermott “Mac” Burke and Oliver Shaw, homicide investigators for the Metropolitan Police Department, are called to investigate. There appear to be no signs of foul play, but there is also no obvious sign of a natural cause of death. The detectives are perplexed until the medical examiner notices a tiny pin prick on the lawyer’s neck and theorizes that he was injected with succinylcholine, which is a common horse tranquilizer that dissipates quickly in the body. As Mac and Oliver begin to look further, they discover that the lawyer had sold his life insurance policy to a large viatical company. Then they realize that more deaths under mysterious circumstances have occurred among those who have sold their policies to the same company. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on October 10th
Below are some notable titles releasing on October 10th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of October 9th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
BLOOD LINES by Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille (Thriller)
From New York Times bestselling authors Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille, BLOOD LINES features the return of Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor who are on the hunt for the cold-blooded murderer of one of their fellow agents.
THE BURNOUT by Sophie Kinsella (Romantic Comedy)
Sparks fly in this delightful novel about two burned-out professionals who meet at a ramshackle resort on the British seaside.
FAMILY MEAL by Bryan Washington (Fiction)
From the bestselling, award-winning author of MEMORIAL and LOT comes an irresistible, intimate novel about two young men, once best friends, whose lives collide again after a loss.
THE LEFTOVER WOMAN by Jean Kwok (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
From the New York Times bestselling author of SEARCHING FOR SYLVIE LEE and GIRL IN TRANSLATION comes an evocative family drama and a riveting mystery about the ferocious pull of motherhood for two very different women.
OBSESSION: A Teddy Fay Novel Featuring Stone Barrington by Stuart Woods and Brett Battles (Thriller/Adventure)
Teddy Fay must put all his skills to the test in this electrifying new adventure in the New York Times bestselling series.
OPINIONS: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People's Business by Roxane Gay (Essays)
From beloved and bestselling author Roxane Gay comes an exhilarating collection of her essays on culture, politics and everything in between.
ROMAN STORIES written by Jhumpa Lahiri, translated by the author with Todd Portnowitz (Fiction/Short Stories)
Rome --- metropolis and monument, suspended between past and future, multifaceted and metaphysical --- is the protagonist, not the setting, of these nine stories by Jhumpa Lahiri, her first short story collection since UNACCUSTOMED EARTH.
RUMOR OF EVIL by Gary Braver (Mystery/Thriller)
A 16-year-old exchange student is accused of witchcraft. Dark circumstances and sick rumors lead to her brutal death, a cover-up and more murders two decades later.
SWORD CATCHER by Cassandra Clare (Fantasy/Romance)
Two outcasts find themselves caught in a web of forbidden love, dangerous magic and dark secrets that could change the world forever in the start of a riveting epic fantasy series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Shadowhunter Chronicles.
TOO MANY BULLETS by Max Allan Collins (Historical Thriller/Mystery)
Acclaimed “True Crime” detective Nathan Heller, whose cases have sold more than one million copies, returns to uncover the secrets behind Robert F. Kennedy’s 1968 assassination in this brand-new novel from bestselling ROAD TO PERDITION author Max Allan Collins.
TOUCHED by Walter Mosley (Science Fiction/Dystopian Fantasy)
Intergalactic visions, deadly threats and explosive standoffs between mostly good and completely evil converge in a dystopian fantasy that could only be conceived by the inimitable Walter Mosley, one of the country’s most beloved and acclaimed writers.
'TWAS THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS: An Andy Carpenter Mystery by David Rosenfelt (Mystery)
In national bestseller David Rosenfelt’s 'TWAS THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, all through the Carpenter house, five dogs are stirring, and not even Andy can get out of working this latest case at his door.
VEIL OF DOUBT by Sharon Virts (Historical Mystery/Thriller)
When a mother is charged with murder in a town already convinced of her guilt, can defense attorney Powell Harrison find truth and justice in a legal system where innocence is not presumed?
WHAT WE KEPT TO OURSELVES by Nancy Jooyoun Kim (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
The New York Times bestselling author of the Reese’s Book Club pick THE LAST STORY OF MINA LEE returns with a timely and surprising new novel about a family’s search for answers following the disappearance of their mother.
THE WITCH OF MARACOOR by Gregory Maguire (Fantasy)
The multimillion-copy bestselling story of WICKED comes full circle in THE WITCH OF MARACOOR, the final installment in Gregory Maguire’s Another Day series.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Nelson DeMille, Julia Kelly, Alex DeMille
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are four upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Saturday, October 7th at 1pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's will host Julia Kelly as she discusses her new book, A TRAITOR IN WHITEHALL, the first entry in her mysterious and immersive Parisian Orphan series.
Monday, October 9th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille will talk about their latest thriller, BLOOD LINES, which marks the return of Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, who are on the hunt for the cold-blooded murderer of one of their fellow agents.
Wednesday, October 11th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books": Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between October 10th and October 31st, along with a few from November and December, that she would like to get on your radar.
Wednesday, October 11th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Patti Callahan Henry --- will talk to Thrity Umrigar about her new novel, THE MUSEUM OF FAILURES, an immersive story about family secrets and the power of forgiveness.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. For years, Carol has moderated book festivals and author events around the country. But we know that readers often do not live where they can attend an author event. Our goal is to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)
Here is our latest interview:
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Douglas Brunt (THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I)
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Tess Gerritsen (THE SPY COAST)
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William Kent Krueger (THE RIVER WE REMEMBER)
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Jean Kwok (THE LEFTOVER WOMAN)
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Sharon Virts (VEIL OF DOUBT)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: Monthly Book Clubs
Which of these monthly book clubs do you follow? Please check all that apply.
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Barnes & Noble Book Club
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Belletrist
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Book of the Month
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“Good Morning America” Book Club
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Oprah’s Book Club
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Random House Book Club
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“Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club
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Reese’s Book Club
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Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites
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Target Book Club
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None of the above
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Other (Please specify)
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, October 20th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve read with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from October 6th to October 20th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of BLOOD LINES by Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille and THE EXCHANGE: After The Firm by John Grisham.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the books you write about, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For rules and guidelines, click here.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
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